Apparatus for bowling



2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR //PV//Y6 J/VOO/ ATTORNEY Dec. 26, 1939. 1. SHOOR APPARATUS FOR BOWLING Filed April 7, 1939 IF I Dec. 26, 1939., v 'SHQOR 4 APPARATUS FOR BOWLING Filed April 7, 19:59 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 BY Km ATTORNEY Patented Dec. 26, 1939 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 11 Claims.

This invention relates to bowling, and more particularly to apparatus for bowling by means of suspended bowling balls.

The primary object of my invention is to provide a generally improved bowling game particularly intended for grown persons, and using full sized bowling balls and pins in order to afford exercise as well as pleasure to the players.

The ball is suspended on a long cable from poles of substantial height, and swings over a large arc of movement. In accordance with a further feature and object of my invention, I provide a players platform at one side of the poles and a pin block at the opposite side, the space therebetween being lower than the platform and the pin block by a substantial amount adequate to clear the suspended bowling ball during its curved flight. The game is preferably played outdoors, and the apparatus is designed for outdoor use. In such case the ground at the poles may be excavated to form a shallow curved or trough-like surface which clears the path of the ball. Moreover, the excavated earth is preferably transferred to both sides in order to help elevate the players platform and the pin block, as well as a pin-boy stand in back of the pin block. The resulting elevation above normal grade reduces the amount of excavation needed below normal grade.

Further objects are to so design the apparatus as to accommodate a series of players; to provide an improved pin block; to provide guard rails around each pin block to catch the pins knocked from the pin block; to provide a safety fence which defines a safe position for the pinboys and for onlookers; to provide a simplified hitching post arrangement to hold the balls when not in use; and to provide means for free oscillation of the cable and to prevent twisting thereof.

To the accomplishment of the foregoing and such other objects as will hereinafter appear, my invention consists in the bowling apparatus elements and their relation one to the other, as hereinafter are more particularly described in the specification and sought to be defined in the claims. The specification is accompanied by drawings in which:

Fig. 1 is a section through bowling apparatus embodying features of my invention;

Fig. 2 is a plan view of bowling apparatus for eight players;

Fig. 3 is a perspective view showing a player holding a bowling ball preparatory to swinging the same;

Fig. 4 shows one method of suspending the bowling ball; i

Fig. 5 is a perspective view illustrating the pin block and guard rail around the same;

Fig. 6 is a perspective view showing the con- 5 struction of the hooks on the hitching post;

Fig. 7 is a side elevation of a portion of the row of poles, and illustrates the overlapped construction of the cross bar at the upper ends of the poles; and

Fig. 8 is a section explanatory of a modified construction for the cross bar and for suspension of the bowling ball.

'Referring to the drawings, and more particu larly to Fig. 1, the bowling ball I2 is shown hooked on hitching post I l. It is attached to the lower end of a cable 16 the upper end of which is secured to a cross bar l8 extending between the upper ends of spaced poles 2B. The ball swings on a curved path indicated at 22. A play ers platform 24 is provided at one side of poles 20, and a pin-boy stand 26 on the opposite side of the poles. A pin block 28 is disposed inside of stand 26. This block is preferably stepped as shown, so that the pins 30 thereon all lie in the trajectory of the bowling ball.

Because of the substantial size of the apparatus (the cable l6, for example, being approximately forty-five feet in length), the space between the players platform and the pin block 28 is lowered to clear the ball l2 during its flight. This may be done by elevating the platform and pin block, or by excavating the ground therebetween, or, as in the present case, by doing both. More specifically, the ground at the poles 26 is excavated below normal grade to form a shallow curved or trough-like surface, and the earth excavated at the poles is transferred to either side to help elevate the platform 24 and the pin-boy stand 26. The normal grade line is indicated Referring now to Fig. 4, the bowling ball I2 is preferably a wood ball of large size. It is preferably secured to cable [6 through a swivel connection 34 in order to avoid twisting of the cable. 45 The cable may vary in dimension up to, say, three-eighths of an inch, but I find that a oneeighth inch cable is adequate in strength. Appropriate thimbles are employed at 36 to protect the cable against chafing and undue wear. The cable is suspended from an eye bolt 38 passing through cross bar l8. In the present case, the cross bar is made up of two superposed members 40 and 42 which may, for example, be two inches 55 by four inches in section. The wood is protected by appropriate washers M.

It is essential that the ball be suspended for universal movement, or in other words, that it be freely movable in all directions without being appreciably influenced by bending of even the comparatively slender one-eighth inch cable. In the present case, this desired freedom of movement is obtained by interposing a length of chain 46 between the upper end of the cable and the eye bolt. The chain may, for example, be eighteen inches in length. The upper links may be larger than the lower links, and at least one of the links should be a lap link to facilitate removal of the cable.

The pin block 28 is best shown in Fig. 5. It is a block of concrete which is embedded for a substantial distance in the ground, as is indicated at 48. The upper surface 50 is sloped to follow the path of the bowling ball, as was mentioned in connection with Fig. 1. However, at suitable intervals, steps or ledges 52, 5 3, 55 and 58 are provided, these being horizontal to facilitate standing of the pins 38. The pin block is generally triangular when viewed in plan, so that the pins may be set up in the customary manner, there being one pin on step 52, two pins on step 54, three pins on step 55, and four pins on step 58.

Guard rails 50 are provided around the pin block 28. In the present case, the guard rails are boards set edgewise with their lower edges embedded for some distance in the ground. A stake 62 may be driven into the ground at the forward end of guard rails 66, and additional stakes (it may be driven at the rear ends, the boards being secured to these stakes in order to strengthen and better anchor the structure.

The primary purpose of the guard around the pin block is to catch the pins when they are knocked from the pin block, thereby preventing the pins from rolling down into the excavated space at the poles. They also serve to limit the movement of the pin-boy and prevent him from accidentally stepping out of the area of one alley into the next. The pin-boy walks between the guard and the pin block while picking up the pins and setting them on the block, and is instructed never to step over the guard in order to cross over from one alley to the next.

The hitching post may be constructed in var-- ious ways, one of which is illustrated in Fig. 6. In this case, the post It is provided at its upper end with sidewardly projecting arms 68, the outer .ends of which turn at 68. A length of pipe may be used for the arms 66, and appropriate fittings may be added at the ends of the pipe to form the bends 68. The pipe is driven through a hole in post M, and the arms 66 are then preferably bent slightly, as shown in the drawings, in order to help safely hook the bowling ball.

Referring now to Fig. '7, I there show the up= per ends of four of a row of poles 25. The poles are spaced apart by an amount depending upon the desired width for each of the playing areas or alleys. This width may be of the order of nine feet. The cross bar I8 is built up by suitably overlapping the component members. Specifically, with the poles 29 on nine-foot centers, the lower members 40 and the upper members 52 are preferably made eighteen feet in length. Thus, the member lil rests on the upper ends of three poles, and the abutting ends of members 40 and 30 are supported on top of one of the poles. The members '42 are similarly arranged, but are staggered with respect to the members 40 so that the joints between the members 49 come above alternate poles, while the joints between members 2 come above the intermediate poles. The cables It for the bowling balls are, of course, suspended from the cross bar [8 between the poles 2%. They are preferably located at the mid-point, and are connected to the cross bar through a length of chain 46, as has already been described.

Referring now to Fig. 2, it will be seen that there are eight alleys, each having a pin block 28. It will also be seen that the guard rails fit for the adjacent alleys are connected together at their outer ends, thus forming a continuous guard rail of zig-zag shape. The hitching posts are disposed along the players platform 24 in a manner which will be clear from inspection of the drawings, and it will also be clear that only four hitching posts are needed for the eight alleys, the posts being located, of course, between the alleys. Fig. 2 also illustrates how each of the alleys may be provided with a guide line 10 marked on the players platform 24 and directed accurately toward the pin block. The lines 10 are intended to help the player guide the ball, and indicate the center of the alley. A special flag stone 12 may be embedded in the platform 2 at each of the alleys at the point of greatest wear. The center lines 10 and the flag stones or stepping stones 12 are also shown in Fig. 3.

The cross bar l8 rests on a row of nine poles. These poles are preferably embedded deeply in the ground, as is indicated at T4 in Fig. 1. They are also preferably stayed by means of suitable guy wires 16 and 18. These are connected at their lower ends to embedded blocks or dead men 80. Turnbuckles 82 may be used to tension the guy wires. These guy wires also serve to define and separate the successive alleys. The guy Wires may be located in a variety of ways. In Fig. 1, they extend to the top of the pole, and wire 76 passes through the players platform 24 near the rear edge thereof. This discourages onlookers or those going to or leaving an alley from walking along the players platform. This minimizes interference with bowlers, and in sures against someone being struck by a returning ball. Of course, inasmuch as the hitching posts it are approximately six feet high, the trajectory of the ball is such that a person on the platform is reasonably safe against being struck unless he walks so near the inner edge of the platform as to come inside the hitching posts. People are therefore encouraged to walk in the area 84 beneath canopy 86, the latter preferably extending entirely along the rear edge of the players platform, as is indicated in Fig. 2.

However, I have also successfully employed guy wires located as is indicated by the broken lines 88 and so in Fig. l. The guy wires 88 pass through the players platform at or near the hitching posts. This permits free walking along the players platform behind the hitching posts, but effectively prevents or discourages walking in front of the posts. The arrangement then is as indicated in Fig. 3, in which the guy wires 88 pass through platform 24 approximately at the posts M. This arrangement of guy wires has additional advantages in that the wire 98 may be kept within the minimum property line needed for the plant, and further, of making it easier for a pin-boy to move safely from one alley to another when one pin-boy tends several alleys. To'explain this better, it may be pointed out that a fence 92 (Figs. 1 and 2) is disposedat III) the outside of the pin-boy stand 26. In the present case, this fence has been made approximately six feet in height, and it will be observed that the fence is so spaced from the pin blocks 28 that the trajectory of the ball safely clears thetop of the fence. A pin-boy standing against the fence is therefore safe against being struck by the ball. The pin-boys are instructed to always stand against the fence when not setting up the pins, and to move along the fence when moving from one alley to another. With the guy wire in the position 90, the pin-boy is discouraged from moving across alleys except at a point close to the fence. He is also able to stand between alleys when the ball is being played.

The fence 92 is also useful in preventing injury to bystanders. It is not essential for the fence to be six feet in height, for the important thing is that it keeps observers at a distance such that the ball even if thrown hard, will simply swing harrnlessly overhead. The fence is preferably made continuous, and is preferably painted white on the inside where it faces the players so that the pins on the pin block show up clearly against the white surface of the fence.

Another fence 94 (Figs. 1 and 2) is disposed on the normal grade at the ends of the plant. Ordinarily, the plant is erected with one end on the street line so that passersby can clearly see the apparatus and the players from the sidewalk outside the end fence 94. A counter 96 (Fig. 2) may be provided at the street front end of canopy 86, at which admission tickets are sold to prospective players. The supporting columns 98 (Fig. 1) of canopy 86 may be used to carry suitable score boards Iflll for each of the alleys, on which the players score may be kept. Equipment lockers I02 extend along one side of the roofed area, and may also be used as benches. Precautionary safety rules for players may be conspicuously displayed by mounting the same directly on the hitching posts I4, as is indicated at I84 in Figs. 1 and 3. These rules may be quite simple, reading in substance as follows:

(1) Do not remove ball from hook until pins are set up and boy is back in position;

(2) Catch ball on back swing and hang it on hook.

(3) Throw ball easily. Please do not throw swift balls.

Before closing the present description, reference may be made to Fig. 8, which shows a modified cross-bar construction and cable suspension. In Fig. 8, the cross bar consists of members H0 and H2 bolted on opposite sides of the upper end I Id of thepole, as by means of the bolt HE. A bottom member I I8 is secured to members I I0 and IIZ. The cable carrying the ball is connected to the eye I20 of a suitable ball and socket member. The ball I22 is carried in a socket made up of a lower member I24 bolted to an upper member I26. Upper member I26 is formed integrally with a stem I28 passing through and bolted to member H8. The member I26 may be provided with a grease fitting so that the ball and socket connection can be kept well lubricated. With .this construction, it is not necessary to provide a swivel connection at the lower end of the cable because the fitting at the upper end of the cable prevents twisting of the cable, as well as afiords free universal movement thereof.

. It is believed that the construction as well as the method of using, and the many advantages, of my improved bowling apparatus, will be ap parent from the foregoing detailed description thereof. It will also be apparent that while I have shown and described my invention in preferred forms, many changes and modifications may be made in the structures disclosed, without departing from the spirit of the invention defined in the following claims.

I claim:

1. Bowling apparatus, comprising spaced poles of substantial height, a cross bar extending therebetween, a long cable secured to said cross bar between said poles, a large bowling ball fastened to the lower end of said cab-1e, a players platform at one side of said poles, and a pin block at the opposite side of said poles, the space therebetween being substantially lower than said platform and block in order to clear the suspended bowling ball during its flight, said pin block being so stepped that the pins thereon follow thecurved path of the bowling ball.

2. Bowling apparatus, comprising spaced poles of substantial height, a cross bar' extending therebetween, a long cable secured to said cross bar between said poles, alarge bowling ball fastened to the lower end of said cable, a player's platform at one side of said poles, a pin block at the'opposite side of said poles, the space therebetween being lower than said platform and block in order to clear the suspended bowling ball. during its flight, and a guard around the pin block to catch the pins when knocked from the block and to keep them from rolling down into the space between the block and the platform.

3. Bowling apparatus, comprising spaced poles of substantial height, a cross bar extending therebetween, a long cable secured to said cross bar between said poles, a large bowling ball fastened to. the lower end of said cable, a player's platform at one side of said poles, and a pin block at the opposite side of said poles, the space therebetween being lower than said platform and block in order to clear the suspended bowling ball during its flight, means on the players platform' to hold the ball when not in use, and a fence in back of said pin block, said fence being so located that the trajectory of the ball at the fence is approximately six feet or more above the ground at the fence, whereby a pin-boy standing at the fence is. safe against being struckby the ball.

4. An outdoor bowling apparatus, comprising spaced poles of substantial height, a cross bar extending therebetween, a cable secured to said cross bar between said poles, a large bowling ball fastened to the lower end of said cable, a players platform at one side of said poles and a pin block at the opposite side of said poles, the

space therebetween being excavated below normal grade and the excavated earth being used to elevate the platform and pin block in order to clear the suspended bowling ball during its flight.

5. Bowling apparatus, comprising spaced poles of substantial height, a cross bar extending therebetween, a long cable secured to said cross bar between said poles, a large bowling ball fastened to the lower end of said cable, a player's platform at 'one'side of said poles, a pin block at the opposite side of said poles, the space therebetween being lower than said platform and block in order to clear the suspended bowling ball during its flight, said pin block being so stepped that the pins thereon follow the path of the bowling ball, a hitching post on the players platform on which the ball is hooked when not in use,

a guard around the pin block to catch the pins when knocked from the block, and a fence in back of said pin block so located that a pin-boy standing at the fence is safe against being struck by the bowling ball.

6. Bowling apparatus, comprising a row of spaced poles of substantial height, a continuous cross-bar extending along the upper ends of said poles, a cable secured to said cross bar between each pair of said poles, a large bowling ball fastened to the lower end of said cable, the ground at said row of poles being excavated to form a shallow curved or trough-like surface which clears the bowling balls in flight, a players stand at one side of said row of poles, a pin boy stand at the opposite side of said row of poles, a row of pin blocks just inside the pin-boy stand, said pin blocks being so stepped that the pins thereon follow the path of the bowling balls, means at the players stand to hold the balls when not in use, a guard to catch the pins when knocked from the block, and a fence in back of said pin-boy stand so located that a pin-boy standing at the fence is safe against being struck by the bowling ball.

7. Bowling apparatus, comprising a row of spaced poles of substantial height, a continuous cross-bar extending along the upper ends of said poles, a cable secured to said cross bar between each pair of said poles, a large bowling ball fastened to the lower end of said cable, the ground along said row of poles being excavated to form a shallow curved or trough-like surface which clears the bowling balls in flight, the earth excarat-ed below normal grade at said poles being transferred to either side to help form and ole-- vate a players platform at one side of said row of poles and a pin-boy stand at the opposite side of said row of poles, and a row of pin blocks just inside the pin-boy stand, one for each ball, said pin blocks being so stepped that the pins thereon follow the path of the bowling ball.

8. Bowling apparatus, comprising a row of spaced poles of substantial height, a continuous cross-bar extending along the upper ends of said poles, a cable secured to said cross bar between each pair of said poles, a large bowling ball fastened to the lower end of said cable, the ground along said row of poles being excavated to form a shallow curved or trough-like surface which clears the bowling balls in flight, the earth excavated below normal grade at said poles being transferred to either side to help form and elevate a players platform at one side of said row of poles and a pin-boy stand at the opposite side of said row of poles, a row of pin blocks inside the pin-boy stand, means at the players platform to hold the balls when not in use, and a guard rail for the pin blocks to catch the pins when knocked from the block.

9. Bowling apparatus, comprising a row of spaced poles of substantial height, a continuous cross-bar extending along the upper ends of said poles, a cab-1e secured to said cross bar between each pair of said poles, a large bowling ball fastened to the lower end of said cable, the ground along said row of poles being excavated to form a shallow curved or trough-like surface which clears the bowling balls in flight, the earth excavated below normal grade at said poles being transferred to either side to help form and elevate a players platform at one side of said row of poles and a pin-boy stand at the opposite side of said row of poles, a row of pin blocks inside the pin-boy stand, said pin blocks being so stepped that the pins thereon follow the path of the bowling ball, a row of hitching posts at the players platform on which the balls may be hooked when not in use, a guard around each pin block to catch the pins when knocked from the block, the successive guards being connected to form a continuous guard, and a fence in back of said pin-boy stand so located that a pin-boy standing at the fence is safe against being struck by the bowling ball.

10. Outdoor bowling apparatus, comprising a row of spaced poles of substantial height, a con tinuous cross-bar extending along the upper ends of said poles, a cable secured to said cross bar between each pair of said poles, a large bowling ball fastened to the lower end of said cable, the ground along said row of poles being excavated to form a shallow curved or trough-like surface which clears the bowling balls in flight, a players platform at one side of said row of poles and a pin-boy stand at the opposite side of said row of poles, a row of pin blocks inside the pin-boy stand, a guard rail around each pin block to catch the pins when knocked from the block, said guard rail consisting of a series of boards standing on edge on the sloping surface of the troughlike excavation, said boards being arranged in V-shape at each pin block with the ends of the boards being joined in front of the pin block and the boards of adjacent blocks being connected to one another at the back, and a fence in back of said pin-boy stand so located that a pin-boy standing at the fence is safe against being struck by the bowling ball.

11. Bowling apparatus, comprising spaced poles of substantial height, a cross-bar extending therebetween at the top of said poles, a long cable secured to said cross bar with a short length of chain inserted between the upper end or" the long cable and the cross bar in order to provide a universal joint for free movement of the cable in all directions, a large bowling ball fastened to the lower end of said cable, a players platform at one side of said poles, and a pin block at the opposite side of said poles, the space therebetween being lower to clear the suspended bowling ball during its flight.

IRVING SHOOR. 

